Controller for electric motors and other translating devices



E. W. SEEGER Jan. 12, 1954 CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS AND OTHER TRANSLATING DEVICES Original Filed June 26, 1950 Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTRGLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS AND OTHER TRANSLATING DEVICES Edwin. W. Seeger Wauwatosa, Wis.,- assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation. of Delaware 12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in controllers for electric motors and other translating devices.

This-isa continuation of my application, Serial No. 170,445, filed June 2.6, 1950, as a continuation or my application Serial No. 700,148,' filed September 28. 1946.

In controlling electric motors, as for acceleration, it iscommonly desired to render response of a resistance controlling switch dependent upon response of some other switch and then additionally' to delay its response for a given transient: period, and the present invention has among its objects to provide for such control of one or more electroresponsiveswitches in an improved way characterized by absence of efectrical' interlocks commonly employed in accelerating' control.

Another object is to provide such improved control which will enable use or capacitance to afford the desired transient period of delay.

Another object is: to provide for use of that type of switch having an operating winding and a holding winding to restrain it against response and having its: holding winding under capacitance influence to afiordthe switch its desired time element- Another object is to obtain through use of simple. and. inexpensive rectifying means the desired control without need of electrical interlocks.

"Various: other: objects. and advantages of the invention will hereinaiter appear.

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing which will; now be described, it being understood: that. the embodiments illustratect are susceptible of various modifications without departing from the; scope of the appends ed claims.

. In. the drawing Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a motor with accelerating. and plugging. control means there for;

,Fig 2. shows diagrammatically control, cirfor certain of the switch windings of Fig. I, and

Fig. 3' shows a modification of the control means shown in Fig; 1'.

Referring to- Fig. 1-, the same shows a motor- M having an armature A and aseries field F. practice the motor may be of the compound type for simplicity of illustrationit is shown without: a shunt field. The motor armature is shown as being reversible under the control of 2 electroresponsiveswitches 8--9 and I 0'l I, and as having an electroresponsive main switch [I which with the reversing switch connects the armature A and series field F across lines L L The switches 8, 9-, 10, H and H may be controlled in any of the well known ways, as for example in the manner shown in Fig. 2. As will be understood, Fig. 2 shows a master switch D of the drum type having a plurality of pairs of contacts which are disengaged in on position of the drum and which are engaged as indicated by X symbols when the drum is moved to forward and reverse positions selectively;

The motor circuit illustrated includes series resistors R R and R to be excluded from circuit in the order recited, following completion of the motor circuit. The resistor R is provided for plugging, and in starting from rest quick exclusion of said resistor is desirable. On the other hand, as is well understood, it is desirable to have the resistor R remain in circuit upon plugging pending establishment of certain electrical conditions. To afford resistor R the desired control it is shown as provided with conventional short ci rcuiting means comprising a two coil electroresponsive switch [3. Switch l3- comprises a double ended armature lever biased to stand in the position illustrated out of engagement with contact H A holding or restraining winding 13 is provided to temporarily restrain the switch in this position while an operating winding I3 is provided to effect closure of the switch when released by the winding I 3 The winding I3 is connected across the resistor R preferably through a suitable resistor 1', while the winding 13 as shown in Fig. 2 is preferably of the shunt type to be energized upon completion of the motor circuit and to be momentarily deenergized in reversing the motor for plugging.

The resistors R and R are for acceleration and are respectively under the control of switches M and F5 of the same type as the heretofore described switch [3. Their operating windings M and l5, respectively, are shown in Fig. 2 as being controllable in the same way as the corresponding winding of switch 13''. The switches l4 and I 5 when closed respectively shortcircuit resistors R and R as will be apparent. The holding windings M and t5 of switches i4 and I 5 respectively have distinctive circuit connections now to be described.

The holding windings N and E5 are connected in series across the series connected resistors The :cnnnection for these windingsmay be traced from the right hand terminal of resistor B through a rectifier 23 and resistor T to and through winding M and thence through a rectifier 2i and resistor 1' to and through winding 55 to the left hand terminal of resistor R between resistors R and R to a point between windings 14 and it this connection including a rectifier 32 through which current passes to winding only, the rectifiers 22 and 2! being in an opposed relation in the connection between winding M and the common point of resistors R and R As will be understood. the rectifiers 20, 2| and 22 each pass current in one direction only, or at least prevent any substantial fiow of current in the reverse direction. Additionally the connections for windings W and 15 include a capacitor 24 in parallel with the winding M and a capacitor 25 in parallel with the winding l5 With such connections when the motor circuit is closed and switch I3 is open all resistors R to R are in circuit and the windings M and W are energ zed as a function of the potential drop across resistors R and R Also the capacitors 24 and 25 are charged as a function of such potential drop. Then when switch l3 closes, winding l of switch [4 becomes shunted through a circuit extending from the right hand terminal of resistor B through switch l3 and rectifier 22 to winding l5 Thus closure of switch I3 tends to deenergize winding I4, while leaving winding [5 of switch l5 across resistor R for continued energization. However, when winding M is thus short-circuited the capacitor 24 1 is caused to discharge through said winding to delay its deenergization for a transient period. Moreover the discharge of capacitor 24 is confined to its path through winding l4", being prevented by rectifier from taking any other path. When the capacitor 24 ceases to be effective the winding [4 releases switch I4 for response under the influence of winding [4, but the period of effectiveness of the capacitor is adequate to afiord a substantial time delay in response of switch 14 following response of switch 13.

When switch l4 responds it short-circuits resistor R and thereby tends to deenergize winding l5 of switch i5, but it also effects discharge of capacitor 25. Capacitor 25 discharges through winding [5 to delay its deenergization, and discharge of said capacitor is limited to the path through said winding, being prevented by the rectifiers from taking any other path. When capacitor 25 ceases to be effective the winding 15 releases switch l5 for operation in response to winding I5, thereby to short-circuit resistor R However, response of the switch I5 is delayed for a substantial period following response of switch l4.

As will be apparent, the aforedescribed connections, inclusive of the rectifiers, avoid need of special electrical interlocks and it has been found that simple and inexpensive rectifiers will give the desired results with reliability. Also as will be apparent, it is possible to apply this control to a lesser or greater number of switches. Here also it should be noted that while it has been found advantageous to employ resistors r and r use thereof is optional, and that if desired the 7 capacitors may be connected in parallel with less than the total number of turns of their respective windings.

With the circuits shown in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the rectifiers are external of the con- There is also a connection from a point nections between the winding l3 of switch l3 and resistor R and that the special connections for the windings [4 and [5 in nowise interfere with the usual well known operation of switch la in starting from rest or upon reversals for ing.

Referring to the modifications shown in Fig. 3, three resistors R R and R are controlled respectively by switches 30, 3|, 32, which switches are of the same type as the corresponding switches of Fig. 1. Also Fig. 3 shows a main switch 34 like switch 12 of Fig. 1. The operating windings of these switches are assumed to be controlled in the same manner as the corresponding windings of Fig. 1.

The holding or restraining windings of switches 3i), 3! and 32 are interconnected in a series relation across the gap in the motor circuit controlled by switch 34, to a point between resistors R and B. More specifically, the circuit extends from the right hand side of switch 34 through resistor r winding rectifier 35, resistor 1 winding 3| resistor r winding 32 to the left hand terminal of resistor R Also there is a connection from the right hand terminal of resistor R through a rectifier 36 to a point between the opposed rectifier and resistor 1 and a further connection from the common point of resistors R and B through a rectifier 31 to a point between winding 3H and resistor 1*, which connections render winding 3| b responsive to the potential drop across resistor R and winding 32 responsive to the potential drop across resistor R Capacitors 3B, 39 and parallel windings 33 31 and 32.

Thus with the connections shown in Fig. 3 the windings 33 3| and 32 will be energized in advance of response of the main switch 34, assuming line connection of the leads to resistor R and to the right hand side of switch 34. Also the capacitors will become charged and when switch 34 closes it will tend to deenergize winding 30*, but deenergization of said Winding will be delayed by capacitor 38. More specifically, closure of switch 34 results in short-circuiting winding 3t through the connection including rectifier 36, which connection maintains circuit through windings 31 and 32 in series. Here it will be noted that rectifier 35 confines the discharge of capacitor 38 to the path including its respective winding.

When switch 30 responds it short-circuits resistor R and the winding 3|", but deenergization of said winding is delayed by discharge of capacitor 39, the rectifiers confining the discharge of said capacitor to the path including said winding. Meanwhile the connection including rectifier 31 preserves for winding 32 a circuit across resistor R for continued energization of said' winding. V

When switch 3| responds it short-circuits resistor R and hence deenergizes winding 32 subiect to delay by discharge of capacitor 40, the rectifiers serving to confine discharge of said capacitor to the path including said winding. 'Ihus switch 32 is rendered responsive, subject to its time element, to short-circuit resistor R Thus assuming the circuit of Fig. 3 to be a mo.- tor circuit and all three resistors to be employed for acceleration, it will be observed that provision is made for three steps of acceleration with a delay in response of each accelerating switch-,

inclusive of the first, as a function of discharge of the respective capacitor of each.- 1

acclaim What: 13, claim; as; new and desire. to: secure y: I'IBlSLEISiPEEtBEfiii'SJ 12.. In combination, a translating circuit, a switch, to; control sa-ildi circuit. after energization of. the latter, saidi switch, having operating means; and a winding energized; by current derived from; said circuit, which: winding when enengized; afiords restraint-against operation of sai'd switch, means to: consummate, supply of current to: solid: translating circuit while said switch iSi restrainedi by: said winding and taprovide for shunting saidi winding subsequent to energiza tiion thereof, a: capacitor in parallel with said winding for charging when said winding is: enerandi for discharging when said windingis shunted; and rectifying means confining dis charge: of said capacitor toa. path including said winding:

* 2;. In combination, a translating circuit, a

switch. to control saidi circuit after energlzation' of the latter, said switch: having an operating winding with control means therefor and also having a. second winding supplied with current derived from said circuit, to restrain said switch against response to thefirst mentioned winding, means to consummate supply of current to said translating circuit while said switch is restrained by said second winding and tov provide for shunting said, second winding subsequent to energizetlon, thereoi, a capacitor in parallel with said second winding for charging when said second winding is energized and for discharging when said second winding is shunted, and rectifying means confining discharge of said capacitor to a path including said second winding.

3. In combination, a translating circuit including resistance, a resistance controlling switch for said circuit having operating means and a winding energized as a function of potential drop afforded by such resistance, said winding when energized affording restraint against operation of said switch, means to consummate supply of said circuit with current while said switch is restrained by said winding and to provide for shunting said winding subsequent to energization thereof, a capacitor in parallel with said winding for charging when said winding is energized and for discharging when said winding is shunted, and rectifying means confining discharge of said capacitor to a path including said winding.

4. In combination, a translating circuit having means to eifect its energization, a first control switch for said circuit, a second control switch for said circuit having operating means and a winding which upon energization of said circuit is energized by current derived from said circuit and when so energized effecting restraint of said second switch against operation, said first switch being operable while said second switch is so restrained, and said first switch when operated effecting shunting of said winding of said second switch, a capacitor in parallel with said winding for charging when said winding is energized and for discharging when said winding is shunted, and rectifying means confining discharge of said capacitor to a path including said winding.

5. In combination, a translating circuit having means to effect its energization, a, first control switch therefor, a second control switch for said circuit, said switches having operating windings to be energized at the same time,and said second switch having a restraining winding which upon energization of said circuit is energized by current derived from said circuit and when so energized effecting restraint of said second. switch against: response While said first switch responds, said first switch upon responding effecting shunts ing' of said restraining winding, a capacitor in parallel with said restraining winding, and: rectitying meansconfi'ningdischarge of said capacitor to a path including said restraining winding.

' 6'. In combination, a. translating circuit having means to eflect its energization, a plurality of control switches for said circuit having operating windingsto be energized at the same time, eachof at least twoof said switches having arestr-airiing winding which upon energization of said cirsuit is: energized by current derived from said;

, circuit and when so energized affording restraint:

against: response of its respective switch, a shunt circuit for each of said restraining windings con-- trolled by one of said switches: other than its rea spective switch whereby sequential operation, of switches. is obtained, capacitors in parallel with said restraining windings and individualized thereto, and rectifying means; confining dischargeof each capacitor to a, path including its respecstive. restraining winding.

In. combination, a translating circuit includ-- ing a sectional resistor, control switches forshunting. sections. of said resistor individualized thereto, said switches having operating windings; to; be energized at the samev time, and each of a plurality of said switches having a restraining winding in parallel with a portion of said resistor, said restraining windings effecting restraint of their respective switches against response pending response of other of said switches, capacitors in parallel with said restraining windings and individualized thereto, and rectifying means confining discharge of each of said capacitors to a path through its respective restraining windings.

8. In combination, a translating circuit, a resistor included therein, a control switch for said circuit having operating means and, a winding connected in parallel with said resistor for energization to restrain said switch against operation, a capacitor in parallel with said winding, means operable subsequent to energization of said winding to short-circuit said resistor thereby tending to deenergize said winding, and a rectifier in circuit with said winding permitting current fiow thereto and to said capacitor from said translating circuit and permitting current flow to said winding from said capacitor While blocking discharge from said capacitor to paths other than that including said winding.

9. In combination, a translating circuit having means to efiect its energization, a first control switch and a second control switch for said circuit, individual restraining windings for said switches, connections between said circuit and said windings alternatively to energize said windings in series relation by current derived from said circuit upon energization of the latter or to shunt one while energizing the other, capacitors connected in parallel with said windings individually and two rectifiers so disposed in said connections as to permit charge of said capacitors when their respective restraining windings are energized and to permit discharge of said capacitors to their respective windings but to block discharge from either capacitor to paths other than the path including its respective winding.

10. In combination, a motor, means to establish a power circuit therefor and to effect reversals of flow of current through an element of said motor for plugging, a series resistor for plugging, an accelerating switch having an operating winding with control means therefor and a second winding to restrain it against response to said operating winding, a capacitor, said capacitor and said second winding being connected in parallel with one another and with a given amount of said plugging resistor for energization of said winding and charge of said condenser by motor current means operable subsequent to energization of said second winding to short-circuit said resistor thereby tending to deenergize said second winding and to cause discharge of said capacitor, and rectifying means confining the discharge of said capacitor to a path including said second winding.

11. In combination, a motor, a switch to connect said motor to a power supply, an accelerating switch having an operating winding with control means therefor and-a second winding to restrain it against response to said operating winding, a capacitor, said second winding and said capacitor being connected in parallel with one another across the gap in the motor circuit controlled by the first mentioned switch, thus to be'shunted upon closure of the first mentioned switch, and rectifying means confining the discharge of said capacitor to the path including said second winding.

' 12. In combination, a motor, resistors, a switch to connect said motor and resistors in series to a power supply, switches individual to said resistors for separately short-circuiting the same, each of said resistor controlling switches having operating means and a winding cnergizable to restrain the same against operation, a series circuit for said windings in shunt to a portion of the motor circuit including the first mentioned switch and at least part of said resistors, connections including a connection between such portion of the motor circuit and a common point of two of said windings whereby one of said two windings is shunted from said series circuit of said windings when the first mentioned switch is closed. and whereby the other remains in circuit in shunt to certain of said resistors but subject to electrical isolation thereof by response of the resistor controlling switch first relieved of restraint, capacitors connected in parallel with said two windings individually, and rectifying means in said connections confining the discharge of each of said capacitors to a path including its respective winding.

- EDWIN W. SEEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,727,872 Evans Sept. 10, 1929 2,233,169 Jones Feb. 25, 1941 2,339,125 Winter Jan. 11, 1944 

